Archive for January, 2012

Like any other pet animal, parrots also need proper care in order to lead a healthy and happy life. Once you have selected the parrot that you want, it is necessary to have a proper cage for your new pet. Although, some people let their parrot fly freely around their house and do not keep them in a cage, however this is not the best way to keep your feathered pet.

Choose the appropriate size of the cage as cage size is important to ensure that your parrot has enough space to move around. Preferably, opt for the biggest cage you can afford because the bigger the better. Your parrot will be happier if it has enough space to move, fly, and hop around in the cage.

Basically, the cage is used to protect the parrot from other animals in your home and from common obstructions, such as flying into windows, in the home that could injure him. Ensure that the cage is well-built and is strong enough to withstand the expected falls. Moreover, parrots love to perch, therefore ensure that there is at least one perch in the cage.

A well designed cage will allow your parrot to have an easy access to drink and food. When it comes to drinking and eating, the parrot food is among the most vital elements of a parrot’s health. Lack of nutritious food can make your parrot suffer as it may become grouchy and may develop behavioral problems. For instance, self-mutilation such as feather picking often develops in a malnourished African Grey parrot. Therefore, it is necessary to understand and meet your parrots’ nutritional requirements. Also, ensure to change the water daily and never let the water container empty.

In their natural environment, parrots clean themselves whenever they feel dirty, however at home you need to bathe your parrot. Fortunately, many parrots enjoy taking baths and their owners simply put them in the shower every night so that they can enjoy themselves while taking bath. But, if your parrot does not like bathing then simply spray it with warm, clean water. Warm water is ideal as parrots are vulnerable to cold too. After bath, allow your parrot dry off in a warm, comfy place.

Since parrots love to play and socialize, therefore never forget to play with your parrot. You can even cuddle with your pet on a semi regular basis. This will make your pet feel warm, loved, and appreciated.

There are a large number of different types of cats, which makes it difficult to categorize them. However, we can categorize domesticated cats on the basis of their length and types of their coat. Other popular categories that are used include classification based on their physical features and size.

Here are some of the most popular cat types.

Long-haired Cats:

Long-haired cats usually belong to the areas with cold climates. Their long hair keeps them warm in extreme low temperatures of their surroundings. Popular examples include Persian cats, Birman cats, and Siberian cats.

Hairless Cats:

As the name shows, hairless cats do not have hair on their body. They look bald, which is thought to be caused by natural mutation of their species. Popular hairless cats include Sphynx, the Dwelf, Bambino, and the Minskin.

Rexed Cats:

Rexed cats have curly hair, and this feature can be passed on from one offspring to another. However, the visibility of this characteristic is held by either dominant or recessive genes. Popular examples of these cats include Devon rex cat, Cornish rex cat, and the Skookum cat.

Short-legged Cats:

Cats that are categorized according to their physical features include short-legged cats. The most popular short-legged cats include Munchkin cat, Bambino, Lambkin, and Genetta. Since the cats of this group have short legs, therefore they are often called “dwarf cats”.

Short-tailed Cats:

These cats extremely short tails, which look similar to lumps. The most popular cats that have short tail include the Cymric, the American Bobtail, and the Manx.

Atypical-eared Cats:

These types of cats have either curled or folded ears. Sometimes, their ears look asymmetrical. The most popular examples of such cats include American Curl and the Scottish Ford.

It is important to have enough knowledge about pet fish care before planning to have pet fish. Many pet fish die in a few weeks in a new tank because of improper pet care. If you have right information about providing your fish with an optimum living environment then it becomes very simple for you to take care of your pet fish.

Some of the basic steps in taking care for your pet fish are as follows:

Selecting your pet fish:

When buying your pet fish, it is important to choose the fish very carefully. The main characteristics of ideal fish include activeness; have even color tone right for their species; and clear and unclouded eyes. Consider the following when buying your pet fish.

Avoid selecting a fish that looks sluggish, or that has uneven parts of their tail or fins because this could be a sign of fin rot, a bacterial or fungal infection.

Only prefer fish that do not have any visible bulging of their abdomen. This might be a symptom of a fatal disease called fish dropsy.

Beware of any abnormal spots, discolorations or otherwise cosmetic blemishes on pet fish available in pet stores. These could be a symptom of an underlying health problem in the fish.

Do not purchase a fish from a tank that has a dead fish in it because this might be a indication that other fish in the tank are infected with disease.

Taking care of pet fish:

It is best to schedule regular feeding times on daily basis as it will help your fish in becoming familiar with a routine. This can help in preventing digestive problems. Moreover, test the nitrite, pH and ammonia levels of water of the fish tank regularly. Also, always keep your tank clean and free of excessive algae growth as this may result in health problems in several species of fish.